A suspected high-ranking gang member on trial in Mexico believed to be notorious drug lord El Chapo’s son is claiming he is not the person officials say he is.

Soldiers were reported to have captured wanted Ovidio Guzman Lopez in the locality of Jesus Maria, in Sinaloa State’s Culiacan Municipality, on 5th January.

Multiple news agencies, citing unnamed Mexican government sources, reported on 28th February that the US had formally requested his extradition.

He is wanted in America on 11 counts of drug trafficking and money laundering, with US officials identifying him as a major trafficker of fentanyl to the country.

He attended the first hearing of his extradition trial on 7th March via video link from the maximum security federal prison in Mexico State where he is being held.

Towards the end of the hearing, he baffled officials by stating: “I am not the person they believe, that the United States claims.”

This was despite responding to the name of Ovidio Guzman Lopez and failing to state any other name during the hearing.

His defence team has requested three days from the judge to present two arguments against the extradition request.

It is claiming mistaken identity and argues that the request does not adhere to the treaty signed between Mexico and the USA.

Thirty-two-year-old Guzman Lopez, nicknamed El Raton (The Mouse), is believed to head the Los Chapitos (The Little Chapos) faction of the Sinaloa Cartel.

The Sinaloa Cartel is one of the largest and most powerful drug trafficking organisations in the world.

It is involved in the production, transportation, and distribution of various illegal drugs, including marijuana, cocaine, heroin, and methamphetamine.

Once led by El Raton’s father, Joaquin ‘El Chapo’ Guzman, it has been responsible for a significant amount of drug-related violence and corruption in Mexico.

It has also been known to operate in other countries, including the USA.

Despite numerous efforts by law enforcement agencies to dismantle the organisation, it continues to operate.